Alex's POV.
It all happened so fast— me, losing control of the steering wheel, then crashing against a board by the side of the road and everything looking upside down.
“Steve? Steve?!” I shouted.
Our seatbelts were holding us to our seats and the airbags were practically pushing up our faces as I felt the blood rushing up to my head.
“Steve?” I called again. “I'm alright.”
I sighed in relief.
“Are you hurt?” I asked.
“I don't know, man. The alcohol is fucking my brain up.”
“Can you reach for your phone?” I asked.
“Yes. I'll dial the emergency number.”
While he was calling for help, I kept trying to reach for my phone. For some reason, my eyes were droopy.
I was feeling sleepy.
“They'll be here soon,” Steve announced. “Can you hear me, Alex?”
“Yeah.” I finally reached for my phone in my pocket and held it out in front of me. I selected a contact and without thinking twice, I dialed the number.
“Hello.” A voice answered after a few rings.
‘Sophia....’
Sophia's POV
“Step on it. Dammit!” “Mr Hayes said. “Or let me drive.”
“No way. You're going to get us all killed, Tom.” Mrs Hayes spoke while turning a corner. Beside me, Andrea shook her head and glanced nervously at the road ahead.
Stephanie and Steve's parents were driving behind us.
“Relax, Andrea,” I said softly to her. “I talked to him. He sounded fine.”
“All he said was ‘Sophia’. I don't think he's fine.” She said, on the brink of tears. “Don't say that.” Mr Hayes spoke up.
We were silent the rest of the ride, each with our different thoughts.
Then we finally reached the spot of the accident. My heart started beating loudly at the sight of his car upside down by the side of the road. An ambulance stood right next to it.
Mr Hayes was the first to step out and run in its direction and we all followed suit. Oh God! Please let him be alright.
I kept chanting this in my head as I neared the ambulance.
We only got a glance inside before a paramedic got out and shut the door behind him.
“What the hell are you doing?” Mr Hayes shouted.
“We need more time to examine them.”
“My son's in there. I need to see him. Now!” He snapped.
“Tom.” Mrs Hayes pulled him away from the paramedic. “They're just doing their job okay?”
He ran his fingers through his hair thoroughly and let out a sigh.
A car pulled up behind us and we turned to Steve's parents getting out frantically, followed by Stephanie. She ran up to me.
“Is Alex okay?”
“I don't know.”
“Steve?”
I shrugged slightly.
“They're both fine.” The guy announced and opened the doors to the ambulance.
Mr Hayes quickly climbed inside and I stood on my tiptoes to look past the people in front of me and found Alex sitting up in a small bed.
He was alright. I sighed in relief.
“What the hell happened, Alex?” His father suddenly hugged him and for a moment, I was afraid that he was going to crack his ribs or choke him.
My heart warmed at the sight.
“I just lost control of the steering. Although now that I think of it, I think it might just be deliberate. Like the car heading towards me was deliberately coming for a crash.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, I might be wrong. I guess I just lost control of the steering wheel. I'm sorry.” Alex said, looking back, his eyes locking with mine.
Blinking, I looked away. I had an uneasy feeling about this.
“Lost control? Are you drunk?” His dad spoke.
“Of course not, Dad. I just had one beer—” Alex groaned when Mr Hayes’ fist collided with his stomach.
“Tom!” Mrs Hayes shouted.
“The paramedics said he's fine.” He rolled his eyes. “And he deserves it. How could you be so careless? Both of you.” He looked between Steve and his son.
“Dad,” Alex said. “I'm fine. We're both fine.”
He took in a sharp breath. “Let's go.”
Without waiting for anyone, he walked over to his car and waited for everyone to get in.
Alex stepped out of the ambulance, I noticed a small band-aid on his forehead. Once again, his eyes met mine and without a word, I looked away.
Andrea was going back to the hotel with Stephanie and the Harrisons so it was just me and Alex in the backseat as Mrs Hayes drove us back.
The tension in the air was thick. I could feel Alex's eyes on me but I didn't acknowledge it.
Once we reached the hotel, the four of us quietly walked back to our rooms. Mrs Hayes gave us both a tired smile while Mr Hayes nodded at us, and then left.
Without a word, I headed straight for my suitcase immediately we got inside our room. I picked out my pajamas, went inside the bathroom to change, and stepped back out only to find Alex standing in the same spot, his eyes fixed on me.
“Sophia.” He called.
“You're tired. You should get changed and sleep.”
A look of annoyance crossed his face and he probably wanted to say something but didn't. Instead, he went to the bathroom to change.
I grabbed a pillow and blanket from the bed and threw it on the floor. After a few minutes, Alex stepped out of the bathroom with track pants and thankfully, a white casual t-shirt.
He frowned at me. “What are you doing?”
What does it look like? I wanted to say but decided against it as I quietly unfolded the blanket and laid it on the floor.
“Sophia, I'm not letting you sleep on the floor. Especially when this whole situation is all my fault.” Damn right, it is.
Gritting my teeth, I said. “You're not used to sleeping down here and I might as well also bear the brunt of this ridiculous plan I agreed to. I'll be fine.”
“No—”
“I said I'll be fine.” I snapped, cutting him off.
The silence around us accentuated his sharp intake of breath.
“Are you mad at me?” His tone suggested irritation.
I matched his gaze for a brief moment, then looked down at the floor to distract myself. “Talk to me.” He ordered.
I bit my lip to somehow control my emotions.
“What is it, Sophia?”
I let out a breath. “Nothing.”
Suddenly, he was right in front of me, his body mere inches from mine. “Talk.”
“What the hell were you thinking?” The words left my mouth before I could stop them. “What?” He asked in confusion.
“Calling me like that? What were you even thinking?”
He took a few seconds to register that, then anger flashed across his eyes.
“Oh, I'm sorry if I thought I could use some help in a situation like that.” He snapped.
“I wasn't the one who could've helped, Alex.”
“I know, okay? I just needed to hear your voice.”
“Why?” I asked softly, already dreading the answer.
“Because—” he paused, his chest heaving up as he took in a deep breath. “I just knew you would calm me down and get me through that.”
I took in a shaky breath and finally let the tears flow that I'd been holding back for so long.